The Historic Museum in Montana Where Voices Sing from the Walls

Tucked away in Great Falls, Montana, the Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art stands as one of the state’s most mysteriously haunted locations.

This grand old building, once a bustling school filled with students and teachers, now serves as an art museum; but the spirits of its past refuse to leave.

Visitors and staff report eerie singing, children’s laughter echoing through empty halls, and ghostly figures that seem frozen in time, making this a must-know destination for anyone fascinated by the paranormal.

1. The Persistent Phantom Music

Staff members working late at the museum have reported hearing something truly chilling: disembodied singing drifting down from the second floor. This area once housed the music room when the building operated as a school, making the phantom melodies even more unsettling.

The voices seem to carry old songs and harmonies, as if students from decades past are still practicing their choir pieces. No one is ever found when staff investigate these sounds.

This phenomenon happens most frequently after closing time, when the building is locked and empty, leaving employees wondering who, or what; continues to perform in the abandoned music room above.

2. The Former Schoolhouse Setting

Built in 1896, this impressive structure first served as Great Falls High School before becoming a junior high until 1975. Decades of students, teachers, and staff passed through its heavy doors, leaving behind countless memories and, some say, their very spirits.

Old buildings with rich histories often become magnets for paranormal activity. The emotional energy of thousands of young people, experiencing first loves, heartbreaks, triumphs, and tragedies; may have soaked into the very walls.

When a place witnesses so much life, it’s no wonder that some believe a part of that life refuses to move on, lingering in the hallways and classrooms forever.

3. The Child Spirits in the Halls

Imagine walking through a quiet museum and suddenly hearing the unmistakable sounds of children playing. Visitors and employees frequently report hearing young voices laughing, running footsteps, and the echoes of games being played in completely empty corridors.

These phantom children seem to be reliving their school days, unaware that decades have passed since they walked these halls. The sounds are so realistic that security guards have searched the building multiple times, only to find no one there.

The playful nature of these spirits suggests they’re not malicious, just forever trapped in the happiest moments of their youth.

4. The Legend of the Drowning Boy

Perhaps the most famous ghost story connected to the building involves a tragic drowning. According to local legend, a young boy lost his life in a swimming pool that once existed in the basement, though historical records have never confirmed this pool’s existence.

Despite the lack of proof, many paranormal investigators and psychics claim to sense a young male spirit in the lower levels. Some have even reported feeling cold spots and experiencing an overwhelming sense of sadness near the basement areas.

Whether the story is true or not, the legend has become central to the building’s haunted reputation, and the drowning boy remains its most talked-about resident.

5. The Girl Who Died on Site

Historical records document a heartbreaking event: in 1930, a young girl died within the building while it was still functioning as a school. Unlike the drowning boy legend, this tragedy is verified and documented, making it all the more chilling.

Her apparition has been spotted multiple times over the years, usually appearing in the hallways where she once walked as a living student. Witnesses describe seeing a girl in old-fashioned clothing who vanishes when approached.

Her presence serves as a sad reminder that some spirits may be bound to the place where they experienced their final moments, unable to find peace or move forward into the afterlife.

6. The Janitor’s Embarrassed Daughter

One of the building’s most poignant ghost stories involves a high school-age girl who lived in a corner of the attic with her father, the school janitor. Ashamed of her father’s humble position, she would sneak out early each morning to meet friends outside, pretending she lived elsewhere.

Her embarrassment and the emotional pain she felt during those years may have tied her spirit to the building. Ghost hunters report sensing a teenage female presence in the upper levels who seems reluctant to communicate.

It’s a touching reminder that the spirits haunting old buildings often carry the same insecurities and emotions they had in life, forever replaying their struggles.

7. Get Out, The Investigated Voice

Professional ghost hunters visiting the museum have captured something extraordinary: an Electronic Voice Phenomenon, or EVP, of a young boy’s voice clearly saying “get out.” This recording provides tangible evidence that something unexplained exists within the building’s walls.

EVPs are audio recordings that capture voices or sounds that weren’t audible during the actual recording session. When investigators played back their recordings, they were shocked to hear the child’s command loud and clear.

This aggressive warning suggests that not all the spirits are happy about having their space invaded by the living, and some may want to be left alone in their eternal residence.

8. The Massive Historic Sandstone Construction

The building’s construction itself may contribute to its haunted reputation. Built from massive blocks of gray sandstone in the Romanesque Revival style, the structure features incredibly thick walls and dense materials that some paranormal researchers believe can store and amplify spiritual energy.

Think of it like a battery that holds electrical charge; except instead of electricity, the stone may be holding onto the emotional and spiritual energy of everyone who ever lived or worked there. This theory could explain why the singing and voices seem so strong and clear.

The building’s solid, imposing architecture creates the perfect environment for paranormal activity to flourish and persist.

9. The Creaking Floors and Ambient Noise

Not everything that goes bump in the night is necessarily supernatural. The museum features notoriously creaky old wooden floors and an aging boiler system that groans and clanks throughout the day and night, creating an already spooky atmosphere.

These normal building sounds can play tricks on your mind, especially when you’re alone in a place with such a dark reputation. A creaking floorboard might sound like footsteps, while the boiler’s rumbling could be mistaken for distant voices or moaning.

However, this ambient noise also provides perfect cover for real paranormal activity, making it nearly impossible to distinguish between natural sounds and genuine ghostly phenomena happening alongside them.

10. The Building’s Isolation at Night

When the museum closes for the night and visitors leave, the building becomes eerily quiet and isolated. This complete silence makes any unexplained sound; whether it’s phantom singing, children’s laughter, or mysterious footsteps; incredibly loud and terrifying for anyone still inside.

Night security guards and cleaning staff have reported the most intense paranormal experiences during these lonely hours. Without the distraction of crowds and daytime activities, the spirits seem to become more active and bold.

The contrast between the building’s busy daytime atmosphere and its desolate nighttime emptiness creates the perfect conditions for encountering the museum’s permanent ghostly residents who never clock out.